The questions began right after an unlikely Game 5 win.
The Anaheim Ducks erased a 3-0 deficit late in the third period and went on to beat the Edmonton Oilers in overtime, setting up an opportunity to erase a dubious recent trend.
That's Anaheim's sixth Game 5 win of a 2-2 series in the last 5 years. Each of the last 4 years, they've gone on to lose Games 6 & 7. #Ducks
— Steve Mears (@MearsyNHL) May 6, 2017
Here are three reasons why the Ducks will finish off the Oilers in Game 6.
Shake it off?
It's not that Anaheim won a pivotal Game 5, it's how the Ducks did it.
No one will soon forget that the Ducks scored three goals late in the third period with John Gibson on the bench to send the game to overtime, and the Oilers in particular were not pleased with what they saw as a clear goalie interference violation on the tying goal.
While momentum swings from game to game may be slightly overstated, there's no denying the Oilers weren't happy about how that one got away, especially considering their early 2-0 series lead has given way to a 3-2 hole.
That kind of collapse isn't easily forgotten.
It's a huge test of resiliency for the Oilers, and this is where the Ducks' playoff experience will pay off.
Getzlaf is dominating
Related to the above, Connor McDavid might be the best player in the world as soon as next season, but Ryan Getzlaf is giving the kid a lesson or two on what it takes to succeed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The veteran center sits in a tie with Pittsburgh's Jake Guentzel for postseason goals (8), and Getzlaf's 15 points trail only Evgeni Malkin (17). And over the last three games against the Oilers - all Ducks wins - Getzlaf has basically taken over the series.
Here's what Getzlaf was up to in Games 3-5 after the Ducks dropped the series' opening two contests.
| Goals | Assists | Points | Shots | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Game 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Game 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
Getzlaf drew the primary assist on Corey Perry's overtime goal to cap Game 5's epic comeback, and the captain - who's certainly been leading by example - doesn't want that one win to define his team.
Getzlaf on approach for Game 6: "We got to be remembered for the team that wins the series. Not the team that won the game."
— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) May 7, 2017
No Sekera
Oilers defenseman Andrej Sekera will be out for the remainder of the series, head coach Todd McLellan announced Sunday.
Sekera was the recipient of a hit from Getzlaf early in Game 5 that forced him to leave the contest with an undisclosed injury.
In 11 games this postseason, Sekera had registered one goal and two assists with 18 shots on goal in an average of 21:10 per night, ranking fourth among Oilers defensemen.
His absence will mean the addition of Eric Gryba into the lineup, bringing all of 11 games of playoff experience to the table. It'll also mean more minutes for the likes of Adam Larsson, Kris Russell, and Oscar Klefbom, giving the Ducks opportunity to pounce on an increasingly taxed defense corps.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)
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